Prisoners in the largest Federal prison complex in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center went on hunger strike after they were denied the right to visit relatives because of the shutdown.
The shortage of staff in the Metropolitan correctional center in lower Manhattan, forced the jail to cancel a family visit for approximately 800 people for two weeks. On Monday, some of the prisoners reacted to this step guide a hunger strike.
«They have refused Breakfast and lunch, as far as I know», — told reporters the Times the lawyer representing one of the strikers.
The shutdown also led to the reduction of rest prisoners. In addition, the prison staff has no opportunity to adequately provide them with medical care and prescribe medications. There is information on prisoners who are unable to get to the doctor, despite in advance planned to visit him — because no one is working.
Staff is not enough, not only among doctors but also among the guards — because of the shutdown the employees EN masse on vacation or on sick leave.
Metropolitan Correctional Center
According to the Federal Bureau of prisons, Metropolitan correctional center contained both men and women, and currently there are about 815 inmates. Family visits in the prison complex are limited to immediate relatives, relatives such as grandparents, uncles and aunts, and other acquaintances such as friends, employers, attorneys and members of religious and social groups. Additionally, all visitors must be approved by the Federal Bureau of prisons.
Among the well-known current and former inmates of this Federal complex — the Mexican drug Lord Joaquin «El Chapo» Guzman, the terrorist, Saifullo Saipov and the founder of the site for money laundering silk road Ross Ulbricht.
